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Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is an important fat-soluble nutrient that the body requires for the development of healthy bones. The vitamin comes from the sun, dietary sources and in a capsule form; however, many people do not get a sufficient amount. According to Nurse Practitioner Marcelle Pick, if your body is deficient in vitamin D, negative effects such as low energy, depression, poor immune functions, diabetes, heart disease and bone conditions may affect you.

  1. Weak Bones

    • Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which form and maintain strong bones. A deficiency of vitamin D can cause the bones to become weak and brittle, even causing debilitating conditions such as fractures. A vitamin D deficiency is also associated with joint and bone pain, muscle strain, weakness and soreness. If left untreated, bone loss may lead to soft bone diseases, such as rickets in children or osteoporosis in adults. In order to measure the severity of bone loss, a blood test can reveal the level of the vitamin in blood.

    Diabetes

    • Vitamin D acts by promoting the growth of cells and insulin and stabilizes blood sugar. If the body is deficient in vitamin D, it decreases biosynthesis and the release of insulin. This can cause glucose intolerance and weaken the protection against Type I and Type II diabetes.

    Low Immunity

    • Calcitriol found in vitamin D plays an important role in the maintenance and buildup of healthy tissue and the regulation of the immune system. A deficiency in vitamin D lowers immunity and can leave the body unable to protect itself against certain diseases. This makes the body more susceptible to heart disease or stoke, cancer, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

    Irregular Sleeping Patterns

    • Many individuals who have difficulty sleeping or falling asleep may have a vitamin D deficiency. According to the Vitamin D Council, vitamin D is responsible for regulating over 200 genes throughout the body, including the production of melatonin, which helps the body calm down and regulate its circadian rhythms, allowing individuals to fall asleep. With a vitamin D deficiency, the body is unable to absorb and metabolize melatonin properly in the pineal gland within the brain, making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.

    Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

    • Vitamin D is a natural remedy for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a mood disorder that occurs when daylight hours decrease during the winter months. Vitamin D works by increasing mood-regulating hormones and enzymes and serotonin levels, which elevate mood. Without vitamin D, neurotransmitters decrease and cause the brain to receive messages more slowly, delaying "mood-boasting" hormonal pathways.

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